AIBU to ask why I keep being rejected?

[Asthenia]

I’m 27 and have been working in my office admin job for nearly 2 years. I enjoy the job but the money is very very low (for central London) and lately have been trying to get out of it so I can live more comfortably.
My problem is: I keep getting interviews, they go really well, I’m invited to the second and even third and even final rounds of the application stage (the whole process sometimes taking up to 4 weeks), getting emotionally involved even when I try not to, always thinking I might really have a shot here...only to be rejected at the final stage.
I’m a grown up, I can handle rejection and I’m ok with it, but I always get such lovely feedback - nothing to improve upon, we were really impressed by you, you were our second strongest candidate, there was just someone better - so I feel like I’m being rejected but not taking anything away from the experience, or learning anything.
I know interviews are better than no interviews but I’m getting so disheartened. So I suppose my question is really to people who have been part of a panel, or an interviewer (I understand it’s tricky to tell without having met me etc) but what am I doing wrong? How can I improve? Is it simply a case of just being pipped to the post, better luck next time?
I know there’s so many worse problems to have but I really am starting to get down about this. Thank you!

Also would be good to hear if anyone else has had a similar experience, or any stories with happy endings!

how many times did that happen?

do you have children? ethnicity? non british? it's best to ask someone that knows you because it sounds like it might be how you come across whatever that means rather than your qualifications and experience.

So sorry you're going through, it can be so frustrating and disheartening. The only thing I can think of is that they already had an internal candidate earmarked for the job but were obliged to advertise and interview etc. So no matter how good you were you were never going to better a candidate they already knew.

Only thing to do is perhaps take a break from applying and try again in a few months.

Internal candidate
It sucks

To be brutal, you're applying for office admin, which is not exactly a specialist role with a limited pool of applicants.

Recruiters probably get so many applications they can really take their pick.

Do you have any unusual/specialist skills - even if (possibly especially so) they seem outdated? Something as simple as knowing (e.g) proper shorthand is a plus now and could give you the edge!

I have no children, am white British, English lit graduate. I work in publishing so it’s not just general admin, I’m trained in other relevant stuff. Appreciate it’s a very competitive field...sometimes easier to be rejected outright than to get so far and invested in the process!
I’ve had 4 interviews since July that have gone this way. Don’t seem to have any problem getting interviews, just clinching the job!

Are you requesting feedback from the interview panel?

Sometimes it's just a numbers game. You sound like you are doing the right things, sooner or later one will fall for you.

Are you applying for roles that don’t require much experience? If so I would suggest it may be your age (especially if you look older than you are). There is a point at which employers look at a candidate and seem an impending maternity leave. They prefer women who are young and will have moved on/given the company enoughof a benefit before having kids or women who already have finished childbearing.

It’s so frustrating isn’t it - but sometimes there’s very little in it between two candidates. What I’ve done when they’ve said that is to send a short email to the interviewer thanking them for their time, saying I understand how it is when two candidates are so closely matched and that you’d appreciate the opportunity to apply for any further roles. Twice now organisations have contacted me when a similar role has come available within a few months of my interview, so that kind of networking can pay off in the long run.

I agree with need, it’s usually an internal candidate and you never actually stand a chance of getting the job (esp in public sector roles this is true). It’s shitty, they just get people in to go through the process.

My current employee was chosen from 130 applicants. They had been rejected close to 50 times before I gave them a shot. They r the best employee I've ever had. I'm lucky, the 50 people that rejected them are the ones missing out!

Keep trying OP, it's a competitive world out there, but you'll get a job eventually where the employer appreciates and values you!

Thanks everyone! Jellycats - that’s great. I always email to say thanks for the opportunity and to ask for feedback (always something along the lines of you were fantastic but one other person was slightly better) but have never heard of anyone this has happened to - I will definitely be going that in future!

Thank you Florence, that’s heartening! Everyone saying internal candidates, that’s so frustrating...what a waste of time for people :(

I had 5 interviews over 6 weeks so was really lucky got interviews all went well great feedback but nothing . The last 2 interviews I was offered both jobs so was nice to choose and glad I made right decision. I don't think really other jobs were right for me with hindsight for various reasons and the job I got really wanted so stick with it . I know it's kinda annoying as emotionally you put a lot of time into the interviews preparing etc but you must be doing something right ti get interviews. The next interview you get remember you must be capable of doing the job as they wouldn't interview you but so will all the others they see. You need to really shine be positive dress positive and show that you can be positive. Research company online and practice questions to ask . Good luck .

I was always the 2nd choice candidate (or it took 3 days of debate to pick me). My last job I was 2nd choice but good enough that they made a temporary role for me. I then went for an interview where they added an assessment centre because they couldn't decide. I didn't get the job but fortunately they liked me enough to tell me what cinched it for the other candidate. It wasn't something I wanted to change but it helped me figure out my strengths and what jobs they suited. My next interview was for my current job (which I wouldn't have gone for without that feedback) and they think I blew every other candidate out of the water.

It could be something small - I missed one job because the other candidate wore a yellow dress and got one because I lived nearer. Or it might be about how you fit.

For me, reflecting on who I am and just being me worked - and I love my job.